The Warm Hands of Ghosts
by Katherine Arden
Summary
January 1918. Laura Iven was a revered field nurse until she was wounded and discharged from the medical corps, leaving behind a brother still fighting in Flanders. Now home in Halifax, Canada, she receives word of Freddie’s death in combat, along with his personal effects—but something doesn’t make sense. Determined to uncover the truth, Laura returns to Belgium as a volunteer at a private hospital. Soon after arriving, she hears whispers about haunted trenches, and a strange hotelier whose wine gives soldiers the gift of oblivion. Could Freddie have escaped the battlefield, only to fall prey to something—or someone—else?
November 1917. Freddie Iven awakens after an explosion to find himself trapped in an overturned pillbox with an enemy soldier, a German by the name of Hans Winter—each of them grievously wounded. Against all odds, the two men form an alliance and succeed in clawing their way out. Unable to bear the thought of returning to the killing fields, especially on opposite sides, they take refuge with a mysterious man who seems to have the power to make the hellscape of the trenches disappear.
As shells rain down on Flanders, and ghosts move among those yet living, Laura’s and Freddie’s deepest traumas are reawakened. Now they must decide whether their world is worth salvaging—or better left behind entirely.
GoodReads Nominee for Favorite Fantasy 2024
My Review
Unfortunately, I was really disappointed by this book. While I’ve loved the author’s middle grade books, this was my first experience with her adult fiction, and it just didn’t work for me.
The writing itself was beautiful and immersive, and the depiction of war was dark, gritty, and vividly portrayed—I truly felt transported into the scenes alongside the characters. However, the story and characters failed to draw me in. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters, which made it hard to care about their journeys or outcomes. The plot lacked the intrigue and emotional pull I was hoping for, leaving me wanting so much more.
The fantasy element, which I had anticipated eagerly, was underwhelming and felt underdeveloped. There was so much potential for it to shine, but it didn’t deliver. As a result, the story lacked memorability—so much so that as I write this review, most of it has already faded from my mind.
I listened to this book on audiobook, and honestly, the excellent narration was the only reason I didn’t DNF it. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing life to the story, even if the content didn’t resonate with me.
Personally, I wouldn’t recommend this book. However, if you’re a fan of the author or find the premise intriguing, you might want to give it a try—especially in audiobook format, which I highly recommend.